Best counties to raise a family in Oklahoma

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September 1, 2023
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Best counties to raise a family in Oklahoma

For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Oklahoma using data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.

The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you'll find one that suits your brood.

#30. Blaine County, Oklahoma

- Population: 8,799
- Median home value: $110,900 (70% own)
- Median rent: $665 (30% own)
- Median household income: $52,538
- Top public schools: Hydro-Eakly Elementary School (grade A), Hydro-Eakly Middle School (grade A), Watonga High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Watonga (grade B), Canton (grade B), Okeene (grade B minus)
- Top places to live: grade B+

#29. Caddo County, Oklahoma

- Population: 27,253
- Median home value: $87,400 (73% own)
- Median rent: $621 (27% own)
- Median household income: $47,566
- Top public schools: Lookeba-Sickles Elementary School (grade A), Carnegie Elementary School (grade A minus), Hinton Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Anadarko (grade B minus), Fort Cobb (grade B+), Carnegie (grade B+)
- Top places to live: grade B+

#28. McCurtain County, Oklahoma

- Population: 31,112
- Median home value: $99,700 (72% own)
- Median rent: $601 (28% own)
- Median household income: $43,435
- Top public schools: Denison Public School (grade A+), Lukfata Public School (grade A), Holly Creek Public School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Idabel (grade B), Broken Bow (grade B minus), Wright City (grade B)
- Top places to live: grade B+

#27. Tillman County, Oklahoma

- Population: 7,070
- Median home value: $53,400 (73% own)
- Median rent: $659 (27% own)
- Median household income: $41,138
- Top public schools: Frederick Elementary School (grade A minus), Frederick Middle School (grade B+), Grandfield Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Frederick (grade B minus), Davidson (grade B minus), Tipton (grade B minus)
- Top places to live: grade B+

#26. Creek County, Oklahoma

- Population: 71,879
- Median home value: $139,400 (75% own)
- Median rent: $826 (25% own)
- Median household income: $56,384
- Top public schools: Kellyville Elementary School (grade A minus), Mannford Lower Elementary School (grade A minus), Freedom Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Eagle Point Christian Academy (grade A minus), Bristow Adventist School (grade unavailable), American Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Kiefer (grade B+), Mannford (grade B), Sapulpa (grade B)

#25. Okmulgee County, Oklahoma

- Population: 37,046
- Median home value: $96,400 (71% own)
- Median rent: $700 (29% own)
- Median household income: $48,689
- Top public schools: Twin Hills Public School (grade A minus), Beggs Elementary School (grade A minus), Morris Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Stonebridge Academy (grade A)
- Top places to live: Morris (grade B), Henryetta (grade B minus), Okmulgee (grade B minus)

#24. Marshall County, Oklahoma

- Population: 15,361
- Median home value: $115,800 (76% own)
- Median rent: $708 (24% own)
- Median household income: $51,345
- Top public schools: Madill Elementary School (grade B+), Kingston Middle School (grade B), Madill Middle School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Madill (grade B+), Oakland (grade B), Kingston (grade B)
- Top places to live: grade B+

#23. Atoka County, Oklahoma

- Population: 14,080
- Median home value: $103,500 (77% own)
- Median rent: $623 (23% own)
- Median household income: $45,148
- Top public schools: Lane Elementary School (grade B+), Harmony Public School (grade B+), Atoka Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Atoka (grade B), Lane (grade B), Stringtown (grade B)
- Top places to live: grade B

#22. Pushmataha County, Oklahoma

- Population: 10,891
- Median home value: $89,100 (76% own)
- Median rent: $502 (24% own)
- Median household income: $40,721
- Top public schools: Brantly Elementary School (grade A minus), Obuch Middle School (grade A minus), Antlers High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Rattan (grade B+), Antlers (grade B+), Clayton (grade B)
- Top places to live: grade B+

#21. Wagoner County, Oklahoma

- Population: 80,509
- Median home value: $171,000 (80% own)
- Median rent: $911 (20% own)
- Median household income: $68,906
- Top public schools: Highland Park Elementary School (grade A minus), Southside Elementary School (grade A minus), Northwest Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Destiny Christian Academy (grade unavailable), Joyland Child Development Center, Inc. (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Coweta (grade B+), Wagoner (grade B minus), Okay (grade B minus)

#20. Mayes County, Oklahoma

- Population: 39,303
- Median home value: $130,200 (74% own)
- Median rent: $747 (26% own)
- Median household income: $52,956
- Top public schools: Adair Middle School (grade A), Bernita Hughes Elementary School (grade A), Roosevelt Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: William Bradford Christian School (grade A), Ketchum Adventist Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Pryor Creek (grade B), Adair (grade B+), Pensacola (grade B+)

#19. Garfield County, Oklahoma

- Population: 62,628
- Median home value: $128,800 (65% own)
- Median rent: $852 (35% own)
- Median household income: $60,732
- Top public schools: Chisholm Middle School (grade A), Chisholm Elementary School (grade A), Hoover Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Oklahoma Bible Academy (grade A), Emmanuel Christian School (grade unavailable), St. Joseph Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Enid (grade B+), North Enid (grade B), Garber (grade A minus)

#18. McClain County, Oklahoma

- Population: 41,258
- Median home value: $191,200 (80% own)
- Median rent: $822 (20% own)
- Median household income: $73,914
- Top public schools: Blanchard Middle School (grade A minus), Washington Elementary School (grade A minus), Newcastle Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Shiloh Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Goldsby (grade A minus), Newcastle (grade A minus), Blanchard (grade B+)

#17. Muskogee County, Oklahoma

- Population: 66,881
- Median home value: $113,100 (66% own)
- Median rent: $717 (34% own)
- Median household income: $44,166
- Top public schools: Fort Gibson Middle School (grade A), Warner Elementary School (grade A), Fort Gibson Intermediate Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Boulevard Christian School (grade A minus), St. Joseph Catholic School (grade unavailable), Muskogee Seventh-Day Adventist Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Fort Gibson (grade A), Muskogee (grade B), Warner (grade A minus)

#16. Washington County, Oklahoma

- Population: 52,382
- Median home value: $127,400 (72% own)
- Median rent: $778 (28% own)
- Median household income: $55,216
- Top public schools: Wayside Elementary School (grade A minus), Central Middle School (grade A minus), Bartlesville High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Wesleyan Christian School (grade B+), St. John Catholic School (grade unavailable), PATHS TO INDEPENDENCE (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Bartlesville (grade A minus), Dewey (grade B minus), Vera (grade B minus)

#15. Murray County, Oklahoma

- Population: 13,874
- Median home value: $131,900 (72% own)
- Median rent: $772 (28% own)
- Median household income: $54,160
- Top public schools: Sulphur Middle School (grade A), Sulphur Intermediate School (grade A minus), Davis Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Sulphur (grade B+), Davis (grade B), Dougherty (grade B minus)
- Top places to live: grade B+

#14. Comanche County, Oklahoma

- Population: 121,502
- Median home value: $133,300 (53% own)
- Median rent: $828 (47% own)
- Median household income: $54,483
- Top public schools: Flower Mound Public School (grade A+), Bishop Public School (grade A), Elgin Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Lawton Academy of Arts & Sciences (grade A+), Trinity Christian Academy (grade unavailable), Tincher Child Development Center (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Cache (grade B), Lawton (grade B), Medicine Park (grade B+)

#13. Beaver County, Oklahoma

- Population: 5,100
- Median home value: $96,400 (78% own)
- Median rent: $774 (22% own)
- Median household income: $60,152
- Top public schools: Beaver High School (grade A minus), Balko Elementary School (grade A minus), Forgan Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Beaver (grade B+), Turpin (grade B), Forgan (grade B minus)
- Top places to live: grade A minus

#12. Logan County, Oklahoma

- Population: 49,005
- Median home value: $187,200 (84% own)
- Median rent: $828 (16% own)
- Median household income: $74,744
- Top public schools: Mulhall-Orlando Elementary School (grade A), Fogarty Elementary School (grade B), Guthrie Junior High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Guthrie (grade B), Cedar Valley (grade B+), Langston (grade B+)
- Top places to live: grade A minus

#11. Cherokee County, Oklahoma

- Population: 47,307
- Median home value: $132,100 (68% own)
- Median rent: $723 (32% own)
- Median household income: $47,421
- Top public schools: Woodall Public School (grade A), Tahlequah Middle School (grade A minus), Heritage Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Shiloh Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Tahlequah (grade A minus), Park Hill (grade A minus), Zeb (grade A minus)

#10. Jackson County, Oklahoma

- Population: 24,960
- Median home value: $105,200 (61% own)
- Median rent: $792 (39% own)
- Median household income: $55,551
- Top public schools: Altus Early Childhood Center (grade A), L. Mendel Rivers Elementary School (grade A), Altus Primary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Altus Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Altus (grade B+), Eldorado (grade B), East Duke (grade B)

#9. Payne County, Oklahoma

- Population: 81,817
- Median home value: $172,200 (53% own)
- Median rent: $827 (47% own)
- Median household income: $43,686
- Top public schools: Stillwater High School (grade A), Westwood Elementary School (grade A), Stillwater Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Covenant Community Christian School (grade unavailable), Sunnybrook Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Stillwater (grade A minus), Cushing (grade B), Mulhall (grade B minus)

#8. Rogers County, Oklahoma

- Population: 94,637
- Median home value: $173,600 (78% own)
- Median rent: $898 (22% own)
- Median household income: $69,322
- Top public schools: Pamela Hodson Elementary School (grade A), Stone Canyon Elementary School (grade A minus), Sequoyah Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Claremore Christian School (grade B+), Legacy Christian School (grade unavailable), Claremore Children's Center (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Verdigris (grade A minus), Claremore (grade B+), Justice (grade B+)

#7. Kingfisher County, Oklahoma

- Population: 15,272
- Median home value: $165,100 (77% own)
- Median rent: $851 (23% own)
- Median household income: $61,657
- Top public schools: Heritage Elementary School (grade A), Kingfisher Middle School (grade A), Okarche Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Holy Trinity Catholic School (grade unavailable), Sts. Peter & Paul School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Kingfisher (grade B), Cashion (grade B), Hennessey (grade B)

#6. Custer County, Oklahoma

- Population: 28,564
- Median home value: $155,900 (66% own)
- Median rent: $708 (34% own)
- Median household income: $55,074
- Top public schools: Weatherford East Elementary School (grade A), Thomas Elementary School (grade A minus), Weatherford High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Corn Bible Academy (grade A minus), Western Oklahoma Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Weatherford (grade B+), Clinton (grade B), Butler (grade B+)

#5. Cleveland County, Oklahoma

- Population: 292,110
- Median home value: $175,700 (64% own)
- Median rent: $979 (36% own)
- Median household income: $67,068
- Top public schools: Robin Hill Public School (grade A), Norman High School (grade A), McKinley Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Community Christian School (grade B+), All Saints Catholic School (grade unavailable), Creative Kids Learning Center (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Norman (grade A), Moore (grade A minus), Noble (grade B)

#4. Canadian County, Oklahoma

- Population: 151,174
- Median home value: $180,400 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,054 (24% own)
- Median household income: $76,973
- Top public schools: Banner Public School (grade A), Maple Public School (grade A), Piedmont Intermediate Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Southwest Covenant Schools (grade A minus), St. John Nepomuk Catholic School (grade unavailable), King's Gate Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Yukon (grade A minus), Mustang (grade B+), El Reno (grade B)

#3. Pontotoc County, Oklahoma

- Population: 38,102
- Median home value: $137,000 (65% own)
- Median rent: $778 (35% own)
- Median household income: $55,862
- Top public schools: Francis Elementary School (grade A), Homer Elementary School (grade A), Ada High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Ada (grade A minus), Byng (grade A minus), Francis (grade B+)
- Top places to live: grade A

#2. Oklahoma County, Oklahoma

- Population: 790,938
- Median home value: $164,000 (59% own)
- Median rent: $929 (41% own)
- Median household income: $58,239
- Top public schools: Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics (grade A+), Oakdale Public School (grade A+), Harding Charter Preparatory High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Casady School (grade A+), Heritage Hall (grade A+), Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School (grade A+)
- Top places to live: Edmond (grade A+), Nichols Hills (grade A), The Village (grade A minus)

#1. Tulsa County, Oklahoma

- Population: 664,084
- Median home value: $168,800 (60% own)
- Median rent: $929 (40% own)
- Median household income: $60,382
- Top public schools: Booker T. Washington High School (grade A+), Union Ninth Grade Center (grade A+), Jenks High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Holland Hall (grade A+), Cascia Hall Preparatory School (grade A+), Peace Academy (grade A+)
- Top places to live: Jenks (grade A), Bixby (grade A), Broken Arrow (grade A)

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